Fuel pump



Dec. 8, 1931. J. c. HOLZ ET AL FUEL PUMP 5 Sheets$heet Filed Dec.

Dec. 8, 1931. J. c. HOLZ ET AL FUEL PUMP Filed Dec. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN'VGENTEIE ER 26%;

lip d W AT EIENEYE .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .TNYENTD R.

135 A W 7W 'I'T URN EYE FUEL PUMP J. C. HOLZ ET AL Filed Dec.

Dec. 8, 1931.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 Y UNrransTATEs' PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. HOLZ AND GEORGE B. TROST, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS FUEL PUMP Application filed December 13, 1928. Serial No. 325,717.

j 'lhis invention'relates to gasoline pumps aiid'mor'e particularly to a coin-controlled and} automatically operating pump.

;One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a gasoline pump for curb service, the-same being adapted to operate automatically upon the insertion of a coin.

Another object isin the provision of a gasoline pump constructed for curb service,

the. same being arranged as to parts in a manner to obviate the necessity of an attendant and to "permit the customer to insert .a coin inthe control mechanism with the result that'the "customer himself may withdraw a predetermined amount of gasoline for his I till another object is in the provision of a com-controlled gasoline pump, the same being constructed in such manner that the in sertion of a coinin the control mechanism and a subsequentoperation by the customer results in the drawing oif from the pump of a predetermined: amount of gasoline, there being utilized' a pressure operating mechanism automatically controlled for replenishing tl'ie pump. i

still further object lies in the provision ofa gasoline pump devised for curb service, the same constructed in amanner to obviate thenecessity of an attendant and including a coin-controlled mechanism. for initiating the. operation of the pump by the customertlierebeing included mechanism operating i'i automatically upon a release of the control member for replenishing the pump, thereby placing same in operatingcondition for the following customer. v

Other 'objects'of the invention will appearinthe'following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing .the coincontrolled, automatically operating gasoline pump, the replenishing feature being adapted to be operated by means of pressure;

a Fig. 2 is a, cross-sectional View taken on line-2. 2 of. Fig. 1; Fig. 3is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, the same disclosing electrically controlled mechanism for automatically replenishing the pump once the determined supply has been exhausted;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, showing the manner of installation of the pump and associated tanks and electrical control means for replenishing the pump;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with the exception that the automatic replenishing feature in this View is accomplished by means of pressure;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the automatic mechanism for replenishing the pump, the same showing the valve controlling member in one position during lateral movement; and

. Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the operating lever in another position during its lateral movement.

Before referring to the drawings, it is thought well to set forth somewhat generally some of the results applicants desire to obtain with the present type of pump, which is not found in either the prior art or pump structures known to the public. 7

The matter of servicing motor vehicles has reached such a stagethat practically every town or village has many of its corners and other locations dotted with so-called gasoline filling stations or gasoline service stations. Almost universally these stations have come to be practically standard in construction and in the character of service rendered. It is well known that the operator of a motor vehicle drives his car to a point adjacent the gasoline pump which may be either of the visible or other well known type. In practically every instance, the operator disposes the nozzle of the pump in the tank of the car, and thereafter, pumps a volume of gasoline into the tank of the vehicle, either by hand orcby the operation of a lever which actuates a control pump of some sort which in turn projects the gasoline into the vehicle tank.

Applicants propose and disclose herein mechanism which is radically different from such well known pumps and one which Further, as respectsthe general featuresof the pump obviously not new, a hose member- 15 isshown having a nozzle 16, all of ordia to the hose 15, means for operat ng wh ch finally communicating with the gasoline tank a ways be i ev n th. th prer d changes in its entirety the general feature of these service stations. The pump disclosed herein may be disposed 'in'ex'actly the same position as those heretofore known, but it is adapted to be operated in an entirely different manner, in fact it is intended that the service of an attendant be obviated and that the overhead required in such a station beeliminated and this saving be given indirectly to the customer, due to the lowered cost of the gasoline. There is imposed, 7 however, on motor vehicle operator the requirement of taking off the cap of his gasoline tank, plac ng the pump nozzle therein and thereafter depositing a coin in the coin-controlled-ineoha-.

sm a d n lly ep ra ie P u which niti t a' e en't f th Part p m t apredetermined amount of gasoline to flow into thei tank-"When' this predetermined amount ofga soline has'be'en projected into the motor vehicle tank, the operator thereupon releases plungerai d'thereafter the pump mechanism operates automatically to replenish the pump and place'sa ne, in normal condition for operation by a subsequent customer. Beferring specifically to the drawings, 10

designates a pump standard -or fram ng, which supports at its upper end a visible gasoline containerll tobewatched by the customer durihg the Withdrawal operation to.

seetliat he obtains his full amount 'ofgasoline. This frame or standard 10 is disposed in any position desired, it being ordinarily supported upon a concrete base 12. A large remote gasoline tank 13 is sunk beneath the surface of the ground for the," purpose of safety and anaunfiliary tank 1a is operatively connected thereto, the latter being obviously full at alltiines and in aposition' from which gasoline be, readily withdrawn to, the visible tank 11 by mechanism later to be de scribed.f '1 [so it' may be seenthat the general construction of the pump is somewhat standard.

nary construction. A'valve member 17 controls-the -fiow of gas from the visiblepump 11 will'be explained later.

A replenishing pipe 18 is disposed' within the; visible tank with its upper end well "above the fnormal gasoline level therein, said pipe from which gasoline is forced inthe re plenishing process. A large overflow pipe 19 is disposed within the visible container, e Same, finall ina in nd om muniqa ne with th ppe i e f t e larg storage tank It is obvious 'from' the ab v iheti ith s h cons ru ion. t e level f. a phe w hin. the v si le; @Qntainer l of the overflow pipe 19. The amount of gasoline carried within the visible container obviously may be varied, but it may be as sumed that same is ordinarily five gallons.

Inasmuch as the .descriptionup to this point is general, both as to the pump disclosed in Fig. 1 and that disclosed in Fig. 4, the reference numerals have been repeated in these two figures, referring to similar parts, these features being conventional coni f stiee- 1 Aslst'atecl before, there have been shown twoipumps involving exactly the same principle and differing only inthe manner of automatic operation, one operating by means o p es re nd, he oth ele t cally- Now, with respect to Fig. 1 and 'arljacent figures, relating thereto, disclosingfthe pres: sure-operated pump, an air pressure tank is shownfth'e same. being of any conventional construction and normally applying pressure to the outlet pressure pipfe 21f Thispressure pipe 21 transmits pressure through a pipe s n ted .2 t ughe p to e pump to valve controhmeniber 22', the pipe 21 V fi lly rm a ing n a mm n c ti g with the e Obviously, thereis a pressure at all times on one sidelofthe lever control valve 22 and" upper of the auxiliary tank when same is opened this'pressure will. be

transmitted to the auxiliary tank 14,.- and therefore force gasoline up the. pipe 1 8' and finally into the Ivisible; container, this operaopen. 7 1 r A a a I Means for controlling the operation of this air valveg22'is as follows: A bracket 23, secured to the upper. end of the pipe. 18 .dis-

posed within"; the visible container supports in pivotal manner a conventional,v lever-cone trolled ball float mechanism 24. Movement of this ball, float is transmitted to avertical rod. 25, the samejbeing movable within an upright tube 26, secured as at 27 in a gasonetightfman er t thebe t moithe vis b wetaihan s. tub er y rr ds. th d 25 e Q'bi a the e i y of P kin the rod 25at the. point that it ,would pass c I 100' tion continuing as, long as the Valve=22 is throughthe bottom .ofithe, container.

sufficient in view of the well known construction of suchmechanism and the obvious possibility of using practically any character of coin-control mechanism. a

-A coin controlled slot 30 is shown, communicating with the. coin-controlled mechanism, and'it is obvious that the operator may insert a coin of whatever denomination has been found desirable within this slotin such manner as to thereafter permit operation of the pump. The insertion of the coin, as in all coin-controlled mechanism, thereafter releases a latch or similar mechanism which permits'then the operation of the manually controlled plunger 31, the same having a control handle 32. Following the lacement, by the motor vehicle operator, 0 the gasoline nozzle 16 within the motor vehicle tank, the operator then inserts a coin in the control mechanism and thereafter forces the plunger 31 laterally and inwardly in a manner to initiate movement of the pump mechanism. The plunger 31 has a control member 33 carrying various members now to be described.

At its innermost end the control member has a'cam face 34 disposed thereon in such manner that when moved inwardly the same will move under a vertically disposed valve stem 35 connected to the previously mentioned valve 17 controlling the flow of gasoline from the visible pump. Incidentally it might be stated that this valve stem is spring tensioned as at 36 to insure proper seating of the valve at all times and return of same whenreleased to a seated position.

Movement of the plunger inwardly obviously raises this valve, and as long as the operator holds the plunger in its innermost position, the valve 17 will be open and the gasoline within the visible container will flow to the motor vehicletank.

, The operator may watch the Visible tank until same has been exhausted, thereupon he releases the plunger 31 and same is withdrawn to a normal and outer position by means of the coil spring 37 disposed between a depending bracket 38 and a similar bracket 39 on the control end 33 of the plunger 31.

Astationary bracket 40, fixedly secured to the pump standard or frame as at 41, provides a bearing support for the plunger and associated mechanism as well as for the valve stem 35.

The above described mechanism. permits practical operation of the pump as respects withdrawal of the gasoline by the operator and even goes to the point of returning the plunger to a normal position preparatory to a further operation by a subsequent customer. However, it does not accomplish the refilling of the visible tank, which is obviously necessary, and which must be accomplished automatically and prior to a subsequent insertion of a coin by a new customer.

The mechanism for accomplishing replen ishing of the pump is as follows: Inasmuch as the'ball float 24 was maintained in its normal upper position, which holds the lever contro led air valve 22 in a closed condition, any withdrawal of gasoline from the visible container would result in a downward movement of said ball float and a consequent opening of the air valve with a resulting automatic replenishing of the tank. This, of course, would defeat the purpose of the coincontrolled automatic feature, and in order to overcome this immediate replenishing of the pump upon withdrawal of gasoline therefrom, a supportis provided for the ball float, normally maintaining same in its upward position.

This support has been designated 42, the same being mounted on the float 24 and disposed at the upper end of stem 43 which is adjustably secured, as at 44, to a bell crank lever 45 pivoted at 46 to a bracket 47 disposed upon the bottom of the visible container. The bell crank lever has a slit connection 48 with a vertically disposed rod 49, projecting through the bottom of the visible tank.

A simple leak-preventing mechanism or packing isshown at 50, such mechanism permitting a reciprocation of the rod 49 without leakage of gasoline from the bottom of the tank.

Movement of the rod 49 obviously controls the movement of the supporting member 42 for .the ball float. An upward movement of the rod moves said support to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, thereby releasing the ball float, and permitting same to descend in case gasoline has been withdrawn from the visible tank. This vertical rod 49 is adapted to be operated by a control member 51 pivoted at 52 on the plunger control portion 33 of the plunger 31.

We turn now to Figs. 7 and 8 for a more detailed description of this control member 51, which, as stated before, is pivoted to the control portion 33 of the plunger 31. It will be noted that there is an. abutment 53 disposed at the left of this member 51, against which said member is normally retained by means of a very weak coil spring 54, secured at one end 55 to the member 51 and at its opposite end, as at 56, to a small upstanding lug 57 formed as an integral part of the control portion 33.

The manner of securing the member 51 with respect to the lower end of the rod 49 permits said member, upon inward movement of the plunger 31, to be moved beneath the lower end of the rod 49 without imparting upward movement thereto. his is obviously accomplished due to the very weak spring 54 which is overcome by the weight of the rod 49 and permits member 51 to pass thereunder upon inward movement of member 31. However, upon a return moveout into the vehicle tank.

ment or: the plunger 3 1','the member 51 is supported atL-its rear'side'by-ineans of the abutment- 53 and due to :thecam formation 58 upon its upper face, said'member, rides against the lower end ofJthe'rodlE) and actually elevates saidrod upon the return movementof the plunger. 'Mere releaseby the op-' erator or": this plunger is followed by an auto-;

ma ic return thereof, due'to the expansion of the coil spring 37.Thus,'1t is seen that the inward movement of the-plunger in no way all ects the rod l9 and hencethrough connect-- ed members the support 42 for the-ball float so that during suchinwardmovement said ball lloat will not be affected and therefore,

aslong as the operatormaintains-the plung er in the inward position the gasoline within the visible tank will-be permitted-to drain However, upon the exhaustion of gasoline in this tank and a resulting releaseof the control 'handlethe return-of the plunger to its normal position will result in the action of the member 51, or

rather thecan face 58 thereof-against the lower end of rod 49: with a consequent elevationthereofiwhich elevation in turn-moves the seat 47 tothedotted line position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the ball float, unsup-' ported by the gasoline, will drop to a loweredposition, with a resultant transmission of movement to the rod 25, thence to the adj ustable bracket 28 and finally-tothe air pressure control valve 22. r

' This lowering of the ball float obviously opens the air pressure valve'and permits the air to createa pressureupon the auxiliary tank, which :will result in the elevation of gasoline through the pipe 18and finallylinto the visible'tank. Inasmuch as the return of the plunger has not only accomplished the release of the ball float and consequently the air pressure valve but also the release of the valve stem and consequent seating ofthe valve 17, the gasoline that is projected into the visible tank'through the open endofthe pipe 18 will be maintained therein-'andupon an accumulation ofgasoline within the visible pump the ball float will again bB IELISQCl to its normal position',-as shownin Fig. I and thus automatically close the air pressure valve 22 and therefore stop the flow 10f gasolineinto the visible tank. As-the ballfloat as-r suines its normal-and elevated position, the seat 42. automatically slides thereunder and again supports said ball float against downward movement until the plunger has again been moved inwardly, the gravity tank drained and the plunger released'in a manner to actuate same in the manner heretofore described.

The raising of the ball'float and the graami closing of the airpressure valve obviouslystops; the flow of gasoline, but to insure the maintenance of a predetermined volume of ,gasoline withinthevisible tank, in case such closing of thevalve should be even "slightly ings, it will benoted that same are slight modification of the mechanism heretofore described; Inasmuch as the entirepump has been describedgenerally,-it is thought sufficient to refer specifically'only to those parts which differ instructure,=inasmuch as the general principle ofoperation, as will be explainechis exactlythe same. 7 I

' In Figs. 4 and 5, means isprovided for elevating the gasoline from the auxiliary tank 14 which is not exactly of the air pressure type, inasmuch as there is shown in-this instanceanele'ctric motor '59 driving a pump which in turn creates pressure upon the auxiliary tankl4 through the tube- 61; f

Upon energization of the electric motor andconsequent'inovement of the pump 60 'which'has been shown but generally in the present instance and which'pump it is understood can be varied as to constru'ction'to include practically any type of pump, pressure will be applied-to the auxiliary tank with a consequent projection of gasoline through the pipe 62, the gasoline finally being forced into the visible tank from theopen end of said pipe 62 in exactly tlie'sam'e manner aspreviously described with-respect to pipe 18.

The overflow mechanism is exactly the same and it is not necessary to include even difi erent numeralsfor the construction disclosed; 1 j j The only other difierence in the pump lies inth-e fact that instead of utilizing the lever controlled air pressure valve-22, an ordinary switch mechanism, shown generally at 63, is used, the opening and closing thereof being controlled by vertical movement of the rod 25" and adjustable bracket member 28;

-The movement of the rod- 25, which has been described'as controlling the projection of gasoline from the auxiliary tank into the visible container, is actua'ted 'in exactly the manner heretofore described, and in the present instance, when the ball float 24 is loweed and said rodi25' 'elevated, the switch operates to? close the electric circuit throughthe wireslll to the electric motor, consequently causing said initial movement of said motor with consequent movement of the, pump 60 and application of pressure upon the auxiliary tank, which projects gasoline with the result that-activityof the motor ceases, thus stopping the flow of ga'solineto the visible container, the overflow member slooperating to carry oflt any excess amount of gasoline and maintain a predetermined amount within the tank.

An ordinary fill pipe 65 is shown projecting from the upper side of the main gasoline tank 13 to a point well above the surface level, the same having a cover member 66 of conventional construction.

With respect to the operation of the coin controlled and automatically operating pump herein disclosed, it will be seen that the operator of a motor vehicle drives his car adjacent the pump, removes the cap from the gas tank of his vehicle, disposes the nozzle 16 of the pump within said container. He then places a coin of a given denomination within the slot 30 provided therefor in the coin controlled mechanism, thereafter manually grasping the portion 32 of the plunger 31 and forces same inwardly, with the result that valve 17 will be lifted and gasoline will flow from the visibile tank into the tankof the car. This inward move ment of the plunger causes member 51 to be forced beneath and to the opposite side of the lower end of the rod lSl.

llfhen the operator finds the visible v tank empty, he thereupon releases the plung r,

e which is immediately returned to its normal position by means of spring 37, said plunger due to the control parts attached thereto upon its return movement operating to relieve ten sion upon valve 17 and permitting it to seat, and also in its return movement to actuate the rod 49 in a manner to release the seat for the ball float, thereupon permitting said float to move downwardly in a manner to actuate the rod 25 and hence either open the air lever controlled pressure valve 22 or actuate the switch 68 in such manner that pressure will be applied to the auxiliary tank and gasoline projected through either pipe 18, 21 or 62, into the visible tank.

As the visible tank gradually fills, the ball float is elevated to its normal position and the seat 42 thereafter automatically moves thereunder and sustains same again in a normal and elevated position.

The raising of the ball float also accomplishes either a closing of the lever controlled air valve 22 or the opening of the switch 68 to stop any further projection of gasoline, the overflow pipe acting to maintain a predetermined volume at all times in the visible container. The coin controlled automatically operated pump is now in position to be used by the same operator if a larger amount of gasoline is required, or by another customer.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a gasoline container having an outlet, valve means for opening and closing said outlet, coin controlled means for preventing operation of said opening means except when a coin is deposited, means for keeping gasoline in said tank at a predetermined level, means for rendering said third named means inoperative when said outlet is opened, and means operable when the valve is being closed for rendering said fourth named means inoperative whereby gasoline flows into said container.

2. In combination, a gasoline container having an outlet, valve means for opening and closing said outlet, coin controlled means for preventing operation of said opening means except when a coin is deposited, means for keeping gasoline in said tank at a predetermined level, means for rendering said third named means inoperative when said outlet is opened, and means operable when the valve is being closed for rendering said fourth named means inoperative whereby gasoline flows into said container, said fourth means returning to operative position when the container is filled to the predetermined level.

3. In combination, a gasoline container having an outlet normally closed, manually operable means for opening said outlet, coin controlled mechanism controlling the operati on oi said opening means, means for filling said container to a predetermined level, and means operable upon the closing of said outlet for controlling said filling means to fill the container, whereby gasoline normally stands in said container.

4;. In combination, a liquid container having an outlet, means for opening and closing said outlet, coin controlled means manually movable to open said outlet, means for returning said manually movable means to its original position, means for filling said container with liquid to a predetermined level, means for rendering said filling means inoperative, means for closing said outlet upon the return of said manually movable means, means operable by the return of said manually movable means for rendering inoperative said means for rendering the filling means inoperative.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

JOHN G. HOLZ. GEORGE B. TROST. 

